Famous People Born In 1908

Discover the most famous people born in 1908. The list includes people like Lyndon B. Johnson, Ian Fleming, James Stewart, Joseph McCarthy, Oskar Schindler and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, novelists, journalists and soldiers born in 1908. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, France & Austria and many more countries.
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 1 
James Stewart
(American Actor Known for His Distinctive Drawl and Everyman Screen Persona)
James Stewart
54
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 20th May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: July 2, 1997

Best known for his everyman screen persona, James Stewart was ranked third in the greatest American male actors list published by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 1999. During his 55-year acting career, he displayed strong morality both on and off the screen, as a result of which he epitomized the ideal American man of the 20th century.

 2 
Oskar Schindler
(German Industrialist and Member of Nazi Party Who Saved the Lives of 1,200 Jews During the Holocaust)
Oskar Schindler
17
Birthdate: 28th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Svitavy, Czechia
Died: October 9, 1974

Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist who displayed extraordinary dedication and courage to save the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. Oskar Schindler's act is viewed by many as the kind of act that restores faith in humanity.  His inspirational and heart-warming story was adapted into an Oscar-winning film titled Schindler's List.

 3 
Thurgood Marshall
(Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1967 - 1991))
Thurgood Marshall
33
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: 2nd July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: January 24, 1993

The first African-American member of the US Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall was an associate justice from 1967 to 1991. Earlier as an attorney, he fought for the abolishment of racial segregation in American public schools. He was also a strong proponent of individual rights. A symbol of black icon, there are numerous memorials in America to honour his legacy.

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 4 
Bette Davis
(American Actress Who was Known for Playing Unsympathetic, Sardonic Characters)
Bette Davis
32
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 5th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 6, 1989

Two-time Academy Award-winner Bette Davis, a prominent figure from the Golden Age of Hollywood, was known for playing unlikeable characters and her addiction to cigarettes both off and on screen. Fans loved her in All About Eve and Human Bondage. Bette was also the first female AFI Lifetime Achievement Award-winner.

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 5 
Ian Fleming
(Author of James Bond Series)
Ian Fleming
23
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 28th May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mayfair, London
Died: August 12, 1964

Ian Fleming was a British writer, naval intelligence officer, and journalist. Fleming is credited with creating one of the most popular characters of all time, James Bond. His James Bond series of novels have sold more than 100 million copies, making them one of the best-selling fictional book series in history. Jamaica’s Ian Fleming International Airport is named after him.

 6 
Sir Donald Bradman
(Australian Cricketer Who is Considered the Greatest Batsman of All Time)
Sir Donald Bradman
19
Listed In: Cricketers
Birthdate: 27th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cootamundra, Australia
Died: February 25, 2001

Australian cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, is widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. He started playing cricket as a young man and scored numerous records within a few years. In a career spanning around two decades, he retired with a career test batting average of 99.94. He retained a pre-eminent position in the game for decades following his retirement. 

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 7 
Lyndon B. Johnson
(36th President of the United States (1963 - 1969))
Lyndon B. Johnson
74
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 27th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stonewall, Texas, United States
Died: January 22, 1973

The era of Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, saw the passage of many important laws pertaining to civil rights, gun control and social security.  Also, his ‘war on poverty’ helped millions to rise above the poverty line. However, he was criticised for the escalation of the Vietnam War.

 8 
Carole Lombard
(American Actress Who was Known for Her Off-Beat Roles in Screwball Comedies)
Carole Lombard
32
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 6th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Died: January 16, 1942

Carole Lombard was part of hits such as No Man of Her Own, To Be or Not to Be, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, before dying in a plane crash at 33. She had redefined the screwball comedy genre. She was married to Hollywood legends William Powell and Clark Gable. 

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 9 
Mel Blanc
(Known for His Voices of 'Bugs Bunny', 'Daffy Duck' & 'Porky Pig' During the Golden Age of American Animation)
Mel Blanc
10
Birthdate: 30th May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: July 10, 1989

Mel Blanc was an American radio personality and voice actor. Dubbed The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc contributed immensely to the success of several theatrical cartoons by voicing famous characters, such as Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, and Mr. Spacely. He was considered one of the most influential and important personalities in the voice acting industry.

 10 
Buddy Ebsen
(Actor and Dancer Known for His Role as ‘Jed Clampett’ on the TV Serise ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’)
Buddy Ebsen
12
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: 2nd April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Belleville, Illinois, United States
Died: July 6, 2003

Actor and dancer Buddy Ebsen is best remembered for playing Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies. In a career spanning seven decades, he appeared in numerous films and TV shows, playing versatile roles. Beginning his career as a dancer, he soon ventured into acting. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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 11 
Nelson Rockefeller
(41st Vice President of the United States (1974 - 1977))
Nelson Rockefeller
19
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 8th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
Died: January 26, 1979
Grandson of businessman John D. Rockefeller, Nelson Rockefeller was the U.S. vice president from 1975 to 1977 and the New York governor from 1959 to 1973. An arts connoisseur, he was the president of the Museum of Modern Art. He had also worked with Franklin Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.
 12 
Simone de Beauvoir
(French Existentialist Philosopher, Writer, Social Theorist, and Feminist Activist)
Simone de Beauvoir
21
Birthdate: 9th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 14, 1986
French author and existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir is best remembered for her feminist treatise The Second Sex and her novels The Mandarins and She Came to Stay. Her literary contributions also include essays, biographies, and her autobiographical works. She won the Prix Goncourt and the Jerusalem Prize.
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 13 
Abraham Maslow
(American Psychologist Who was Known for Creating Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs)
Abraham Maslow
9
Listed In: Psychologists
Birthdate: 1st April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: June 8, 1970

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist best remembered for creating an idea in psychology called Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Maslow, who advocated self-actualization, is also credited with co-founding the school of transpersonal psychology. In 1967, he was adjudged Humanist of the Year by the popular non-profit organization, American Humanist Association.

 14 
Milton Berle
(American Actor and Comedian Who Became the First Major American Television Star)
Milton Berle
10
Birthdate: 12th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Died: March 27, 2002

Milton Berle was part of the initial Golden Age of Television, and his significant TV roles earned him the nicknames Uncle Miltie and Mr. Television. The multiple Emmy-winning artist began as a child actor on stage and in silent films and later gained fame on Texaco Star Theatre.

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 15 
Fred MacMurray
(American Actor who played 'Steve Douglas' in 'My Three Sons')
Fred MacMurray
10
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 30th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kankakee, Illinois, United States
Died: November 5, 1991

Fred MacMurray was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films in a career that spanned almost 50 years. He is best remembered for appearing in many Disney films and became the first person to be named a Disney Legend in 1987. Fred MacMurray was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 16 
Don Ameche
(Actor and Comedian Best Known for His Leading Man Roles in 1930's and 40's)
Don Ameche
3
Birthdate: 31st May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
Died: December 6, 1993
Don Ameche started as a comedian and vaudeville performer. He later gained fame on radio, too, appearing in the sketch comedy The Bickersons. He also earned a 20th Century Fox contract, appeared in movies such as Trading Places, and won an Academy Award for his role in Cocoon.
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 17 
Salvador Allende
(28th President of Chile)
Salvador Allende
25
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 26th June
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Died: September 11, 1973
Salvador Allende was a physician who later became the Chilean president, this becoming the first Marxist president of a Latin American nation. His policies included nationalization and collectivization. He committed suicide after delivering a farewell speech over radio, to escape General Augusto Pinochet’s coup to oust him from the government.
 18 
Simon Wiesenthal
(Austrian Holocaust Survivor, Nazi Hunter and Writer)
Simon Wiesenthal
10
Birthdate: 31st December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Buchach, Ukraine
Died: September 20, 2005
Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal survived four Nazi concentration camps, including the notorious Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp. He later devoted his life to finding out information about Nazi war criminals to bring them to trial. He wrote several books on his experiences, such as The Sunflower and I Chased Eichmann.
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 19 
Rex Harrison
2
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 5th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, England
Died: June 2, 1990

Rex Harrison was an English actor who won a couple of Tony Awards and an Academy Award in a career spanning 60 years. For his contribution to the film and TV industry, Harrison was honored with a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1979, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

 20 
Ethel Merman
(Actress and Singer Who was Known as 'the Undisputed First Lady of the Musical Comedy Stage')
Ethel Merman
7
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 16th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Astoria, New York, United States
Died: February 15, 1984
Tony- and Grammy-winning actor/singer Ethel Merman is remembered for her legendary musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun and Hello, Dolly! Known as the First Lady of the musical comedy stage, she has been part of films such as Anything Goes and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
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 21 
Harold Holt
(Former Prime Minister of Australia)
Harold Holt
21
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 5th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Stanmore
Died: December 17, 1967

Harold Holt was an Australian politician and the 17th prime minister of Australia. On 17 December 1967, Holt disappeared while swimming in rough conditions at Cheviot Beach. Following his disappearance, which gave rise to several conspiracy theories, Harold Holt was presumed dead. The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne is named in his honor.

 22 
Martha Gellhorn
(Novelist & Travel writer)
Martha Gellhorn
16
Birthdate: 8th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: February 15, 1998
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 23 
Eve Arden
(Actress)
Eve Arden
2
Birthdate: 30th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mill Valley, California, USA
Died: November 12, 1990
 24 
Sir John Mills
5
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 22nd February
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: North Elmham, Norfolk, England, UK
Died: April 23, 2005

Sir John Mills was an English actor whose career spanned 70 years. During the course of his career, Mills won several prestigious awards, including an Academy Award for his portrayal of Michael in the 1970 epic romantic drama film, Ryan's Daughter. In 2002, he was honored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts with a BAFTA Fellowship.

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 25 
Edward R. Murrow
(Journalist)
Edward R. Murrow
8
Birthdate: 25th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Died: April 27, 1965
 26 
Estee Lauder
(Co-Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies)
Estee Lauder
4
Listed In: Business Women
Birthdate: 1st July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Corona, New York, United States
Died: April 24, 2004
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 27 
Van Heflin
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Jeff Hartnett’ in the Film ‘Johnny Eager’)
Van Heflin
7
Birthdate: 13th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Walters, Oklahoma, United States
Died: July 23, 1971

A dependable character actor of his time, Van Heflin won the Academy Award for his performance as Jeff Hartnett in Johnny Eager. While he initially studied law, he later took up a master’s degree in theater at Yale. Apart from films, he also made a name for himself in radio and theater.

 28 
Paul Brown
(American Football Player)
Paul Brown
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: 7th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Norwalk, Ohio, United States
Died: August 5, 1991
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 29 
Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
(Politician & Civil Rights Activist)
Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 29th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Died: April 4, 1972
 30 
Peg Entwistle
(Actress)
Peg Entwistle
9
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 5th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Port Talbot, Glamorgan, England
Died: September 16, 1932
 31 
Louis L’Amour
(Novelist)
Louis L’Amour
12
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 22nd March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Died: June 10, 1988
 32 
Tex Avery
(Golden Age Animator & Creator of Classic Cartoon Characters 'Bugs Bunny', 'Daffy Duck' and 'Porky Pig')
Tex Avery
4
Birthdate: 26th February
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Taylor, Texas, United States
Died: August 26, 1980

Second only to Walt Disney in terms of influence, American animator and director Tex Avery is remembered for playing an important role in the development of  popular characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Droopy, Screwy Squirrel  etc. Well-known for his technical innovation and directorial style, his characters are equally loved by adults for their inherent sarcasm.  

 33 
Edward Teller
(physicist)
Edward Teller
8
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 15th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: September 9, 2003

Edward Teller was one of the famous "Martians,” or eminent Hungarian scientists who had migrated to the U.S. A prominent chemical engineer and nuclear physicist, he was part of the team that created the world’s first atomic bomb and also designed the first hydrogen bomb, or thermonuclear bomb.

 34 
David Lean
(English Film Director and Producer Who is Considered One of the Most Important Figures in British Cinema)
David Lean
5
Birthdate: 25th March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Croydon, Surrey, England
Died: April 16, 1991

David Lean was an English film producer, director, editor, and screenwriter. He is best remembered for directing large-scale epics like The Bridge on the River Kwai, A Passage to India, and Lawrence of Arabia. David Lean is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in British cinema. He won many prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards.

 35 
Richard Wright
(Novelist)
Richard Wright
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 4th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Roxie, Mississippi, United States
Died: November 28, 1960
 36 
Henri Cartier-Bresson
(Photographer and Painter)
Henri Cartier-Bresson
3
Listed In: Artists
Birthdate: 22nd August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chanteloup-en-Brie, France
Died: August 3, 2004

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French humanist photographer. Considered a master of candid photography, he pioneered the genre of street photography. He was among the earliest users of the 35 mm film. In 1947, he became one of the founding members of Magnum Photos, an international photographic cooperative. In his later years, he explored drawing and painting. 

 37 
Morey Amsterdam
(Actor)
Morey Amsterdam
3
Birthdate: 14th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: October 27, 1996
 38 
Claude Lévi-Strauss
(Anthropologist)
Claude Lévi-Strauss
6
Listed In: Anthropologists
Birthdate: 28th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brussels, Belgium
Died: October 30, 2009

French social anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss is remembered for his contribution to structural anthropology. His book Tristes Tropiques was based on his research deep in the Brazilian Amazon. While he left France for the U.S. during World War II, he later returned to Paris and received his doctorate.

 39 
Imogene Coca
(Actress)
Imogene Coca
6
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 18th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: June 2, 2001
 40 
Lev Landau
(Russian Physicist and One for the Founders of Quantum Mechanical Theory)
Lev Landau
5
Listed In: Physicists
Birthdate: 22nd January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan
Died: April 1, 1968

Nobel Prize-winning Russian physicist Lev Landau is remembered for his pathbreaking research in quantum mechanics. A math prodigy, he had learned calculus at 13. He failed to receive his Nobel in person due to a near-fatal car crash which caused him injuries that eventually caused his death 6 years later.

 41 
Geli Raubal
(Austrian Woman Who Was the Half-Niece of Adolf Hitler)
Geli Raubal
20
Listed In: Family Members
Birthdate: 4th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Linz, Austria
Died: September 18, 1931
Geli Raubal was the half-niece of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and the daughter of Hitler’s half-sister, Angela Raubal. She spent her childhood in Hitler’s home, where her mother worked as a housekeeper. She is said to have committed suicide after Hitler forbade her to pursue singing lessons in Vienna.
 42 
Lupe Vélez
(Mexican Actress During the 'Golden Age of Hollywood' Cinema)
Lupe Vélez
7
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 18th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: San Luis Potosí City, Mexico
Died: December 14, 1944
 43 
Buster Crabbe
(Winner of the 1932 Olympic Gold Medal for 400-meter Freestyle Swimming Event)
Buster Crabbe
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: 7th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: April 23, 1983

Apart from being an Olympic gold-winning swimmer, Buster Crabbe later also became a well-known actor. He was seen in over 170 movies, with lead roles in series such as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. The International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee had also penned fitness books and owned a swimming pool company.

 44 
Lita Grey
(Actress)
Lita Grey
9
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 15th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: December 29, 1995
 45 
Lew Ayres
(Actor)
Lew Ayres
5
Birthdate: 28th December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Died: December 30, 1996
 46 
Paul Henreid
(Actor & Director Best Remembered for Roles in the Films 'Casablanca' and 'Now, Voyager')
Paul Henreid
8
Birthdate: 10th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Trieste, Italy
Died: March 29, 1992

Born to an affluent banker, Paul Henreid had an elite education. He also initially worked as a translator and book designer, training as an actor at nights. He gained fame with his role in Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Casablanca. He later also directed a few episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

 47 
Bernard Lee
(Actor)
Bernard Lee
4
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 10th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK
Died: January 16, 1981
 48 
Louis L'Amour
(Novelist)
Louis L'Amour
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 22nd March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Died: June 10, 1988
 49 
Lee Krasner
(American Abstract Expressionist Painter Who Specialized in Collage)
Lee Krasner
2
Birthdate: 27th October
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: June 19, 1984
Lee Krasner was an American abstract expressionist artist who specialized in collage. She is credited with influencing the artwork of her husband, Jackson Pollock. The Museum of Modern Art held a retrospective exhibition of Lee Krasner's work six months after her demise, making her one of the few female artists to have achieved such an honor.
 50 
John Kenneth Galbraith
(Famous for His Trilogy on Economics 'American Capitalism', 'The Affluent Society' and 'The New Industrial State')
John Kenneth Galbraith
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 15th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Iona Station, Canada
Died: April 29, 2006

John Kenneth Galbraith was an intellectual, diplomat, economist, and public official. One of the most influential exponents of 20th-century American liberalism, Galbraith published many books concerning the American economy. Galbraith is one of the few individuals to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Freedom. He also received 50 honorary degrees from various institutions.